(Murray KY, June 21, 2013) – State Auditor Adam Edelen never dreamed when he was elected that he would be investigating his childhood hero. But, he told a crowd of Democrats Friday evening, that was what happened soon after he took office.

“I bleed blue, but Richie Farmer (a former basketball star for the University of Kentucky) needed to be held accountable.”

Former Kentucky Secretary of Agriculture Farmer has been charged in federal court with misusing over $400,000 in state money with multiple felonies and is awaiting trial.

Auditor Edelen is now investigating boards of education and their use of public monies.  Education of our young people will cure all societal ills, so using public funds wisely is a priority. He wants to be assured that public funds go to classrooms – not to bloated bureaucracies at central offices.

 Edelen, the father of twin boys, said that families are now subsidizing their children’s education as never before. “Parents were once asked to send pencils and tablets. Now they have to send rolls of toilet paper and bottles of bleach.”

Edelen said Kentucky needs to modernize. “Kentucky is at its best when it is at its boldest.”

He told the crowd that it will take work to keep the GOP, which has its own agenda, from taking over the General Assembly. He predicted that a takeover would mean an end to prevailing wage and an institution of “right to work” laws.

According to Edelen, under Republican rule, public education will be turned over to private corporations.

Edelen said during his childhood that the saying in Kentucky education was “thank goodness for Mississippi” because that state’s education consistently scored worse than Kentucky’s.  Now Kentucky is being cited as an education innovator. Edelen wants to continue that trend.

“I will skin every knuckle to make sure my children do not grow up in Mississippi.” He said.

Auditor Edelen is looking to take on higher education expenses. Student costs have gone up 125% over the last decade. The costs are driving students away from college or saddling them with unsustainable debt.

Edelen said Kentucky has outstanding leaders who have no choice but to come together.  Factionalism must end.

“This is about following biblical truth. We are our brothers’ keepers.”